Clashes continue for a third night following the police shooting of 17-year-old Nahel
France has deployed over 40,000 police officers as violent protests erupt across the country, sparked by the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old teenager, Nahel M., in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris. The unrest, which began following a peaceful march in memory of Nahel, has spread to several cities, including Marseille, Toulouse, and even Brussels. Rioters have set cars and rubbish alight, leading to significant disruption in urban areas.
The rioting escalated into a third consecutive night of violence, with authorities bracing for further disturbances. Bus and tram services in the Paris area were suspended before sunset, and several hundred young people were seen causing havoc in Marseille by setting fire to bins and clashing with police. One officer was hospitalised after being hit by projectiles thrown by protesters.
The unrest has drawn widespread attention after a police officer, Florian M., 38, was charged with murder for the killing of Nahel on Tuesday. The shooting occurred during a traffic stop in Nanterre, where Nahel was allegedly driving a yellow Mercedes-AMG at high speed in a bus lane. Police officer Florian M. stated that he fired his weapon after fearing for his safety, claiming the driver appeared “dangerous” and was attempting to flee.
A video of the incident, released during a press conference, shows Florian saying, “I’ll place a bullet in your head,” before shooting. The prosecutor overseeing the case, Pascal Prache, confirmed that the legal conditions for the officer’s use of a weapon were not justified, leading to his arrest on murder charges.
Despite the officer’s claims that Nahel’s actions posed a threat, investigators found no weapons, drugs, or alcohol in the car after it crashed following the shooting. The death of Nahel, a French-Algerian, has intensified tensions, with many arguing that the police acted excessively.
In response to the widespread unrest, authorities arrested 150 people on the second night of riots, with government buildings, including town halls and schools, among the targets of arson attacks. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin condemned the violence, describing it as “unbearable,” and offered support to the police, firefighters, and gendarmes facing the brunt of the unrest.
Authorities have implemented curfews in certain areas, including the town of Clamart, where the local government announced a curfew until Monday to prevent further outbreaks of violence. As the situation continues to evolve, France remains on high alert amid growing calls for justice following the teenager’s tragic death.
